Window shade slat



Jan. 16, 1934. c KOPFSTElN 1,943,896

WINDOW SHADE SLAT Filed Aug. 24, 1932 Patented Jan. 16, 1934 UNITED.STATES PATENT- OFFICE 1,943,896 WINDOW sHA'DE SLAT Carl E. Kopfstein,Pittsburgh, Pa. Application August 24, 1932. Serial No. 630,161

4 Claims." (01. 156-31)- My invention relates to certainnew-and usefulimprovements in slats, and while primarily intended for window shades,it will be obvious that the device may be successfully employed forbinding, reinforcing, and for maintaining the alignment of any otherobjects wherein it is found to be applicable, without departing from thespirit of the invention.

Important objects of the invention are to provide a window shade slat ofthe character described, which may be readily attached to the lower endof a window shade without-necessitating the usual stitched hem in thelatter, which may be employed in connection with any type of windowshade, which may be secured or removed Without damage to the windowshade, even by unskilled persons, and whereby the reversal of a windowshade may be conveniently effected.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of the classstated, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, durable andefficient in its use, attractive in appearance, positive in its action,and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and install.

1 With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in-the construction,combination and arrangement of parts herein speciflcally described andillustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood thatthe latter is merely illustrative of an embodiment of the invention, andthat the actual needs of manufacture and practice may necessitatecertain mechanical variations. It is therefore, not intended to limitthe invention to the disclosure thereof herein illustrated, but ratherto define such limitations in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views:-

Figure 1 is a front view of a window shade provided with a slatconstructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view on line 45 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged end view of the device.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front view illustrating the manner ofconnecting the window shade with my improved slat.

Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged end views of modified forms of the windowslats.

Figure '7 is a transverse sectional view of a window shade rollerembodying the present invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 1 represents a window shade of anyconventional type and construction, and provided with a bottom bar orslat constructed in accordance with the present invention. The slatcomprises a hollow body portion 2 which may be constructed or shapedfrom any suitable sheet material, preferably an integral strip of fairlyrigid sheet metal. The body portion 2 is formed to provide a pair ofopposed side walls, respectively indicated at 3 and 4, which are joinedby an interposed, rounded bottom 5. The upper portions 6 and 7, ofrespective side walls 3 and 4 extend vertically, and are disposedparallel and adjacent to but spaced from each other, while the sidewalls 3 and 4 extend at angles relatively thereto. The top of the upperportion '7 carries a depending flange 8 having a width approximating thewidth of and being disposed between the upper portions 6 and '7. Theflange 8 extends parallel to the upper portion 6 in close proximity tothe latter. The lower edge margin of the flange 8 is curved toward theupper portion '7 forming a lip 9.

The formation of the upper portion 7 with its flange 8 and lip 9, in themanner stated, provides 30 a pocket 10, oblong in transverse crosssection,

and adapted for receiving and securing the lower end of the windowshade 1. To connect my improved slat to the window shade 1, the lowerend portion of the latter is first folded upon itself a plurality oftimes to provide a roll 11 consisting of several plies of material asshown in Figure 2. The roll 11 is likewise made oblong in transversecross section to conform to the contour of the pocket 10. After formingthe roll 11, the latter is pushed, in a longitudinal direction, into thepocket 10, as clearly illustrated in Figure 4, while the window shade 1passes upwardly between the flange 8 and the upper portion 6.

It will here be noted that, the connection of the window shade 1 with myimproved slat, in the manner stated, may be accomplished with the utmostease, even by an unskilled person, and in like manner, the disconnectionof the slat from the window shade may be readily effected.

In lowering or raising a Window shade, equipped with my improved slat,by a pull on the latter in the usual manner, the roll 11 within thepocket 10 will be drawn to a congested or jammed position, whereby theconnection of the roll 11 105 within the pocket 10 is positivelymaintained. The roll 11 can only be released by drawing same in alongitudinal direction from the pocket 10.

A pull member 12, of any suitable construction, may be provided forfacilitating the adjustment 0 of the window shade in the usual manner.As shown in Figure 1 the pull member 12 may include a substantiallyU-shaped clip 13 engaging respective angularly disposed side walls 3 and4 and normally tending to force the latter toward each other when a pullis exerted on the member 12. Further, the ends of the body portion 2 maybe covered with any suitable type of end caps adaptable thereto.

The modified form of the device, illustrated in Figure 5, diifers fromthe preferred form herein described, only in that flange 14 issubstantially U-shaped providing a pocket 15 in itself for receiving andsecuring the shade roll 11.

Figure 6 illustrates a slat differing from the preferred form in thatthe upper portion 16 carries a curved flange 1'7, which is rounded andhas its free edge disposed toward said upper portion 16. In connectingthe window shade to this type of slat the lower end thereof may berolled into a round roll 18 and inserted longitudinally into the pocket19 formed by the flange 1'7. A rod 20 may also be inserted in the roll18 to facilitate the insertion of the latter into the pocket 19, andfurther to aid in preventing the disconnection of the roll 18 from thepocket 19, except in the manner set forth relatively to the preferredform.

The modification, illustrated in Figure '7, provides a cylindrical bodyportion 21 having an opening 22, which extends throughout its length.One of the edges of the body portion 21 carries a flange 23, which isbent or turned to the side wall of the body portion 21 to provide apocket 24 adapted for receiving and securing the window shade roll 11 inthe manner identical to that set forth with respect to the preferredform. The cylindrical form of the device may be employed as a bottom barfor the window shade or may be adapted and utilized as a window shaderoller in the usual manner well known in the art.

It is evident that the arrangement and exact shapes of the flanges maybe widely varied to best meet conditions found in practice, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of theadvantages thereof.

The present invention provides a most efficient device of its kind,which embodies the superficial configuration of the conventional windowshade slat, which may be plated or otherwise finished in any colorsharmonizing with associated window hangings, and which may be readilysecured in position or removed therefrom in the manner set forth.

What I claim is:

1. A window shade attachment of the character described comprising ahollow body portion provided with a flange forming a longitudinallyextending pocket adapted for receiving and engaging the folded end ofthe window shade, said folded end of the shade being longitudinallyshiftable in said pocket.

2. A window shade slat of the character described, comprising a hollowbody portion constructed from an integral strip of sheet metal, saidbody portion including a pair of side walls, one of said pair of sidewalls carrying a flange forming a pocket adapted for receiving andengaging the folded end of the window shade, said folded end of theshade being longitudinally shiftable in said pocket.

3. A window shade slat of the character described, comprising a hollowbody portion constructed from an integral strip of sheet metal, saidbody portion including a pair of side walls, the upper portions of saidside walls being disposed vertically and parallel with respect to eachother, one of said upper portions carrying a depending flange forming apocket for receiving and engaging the folded end of the window shade,said folded end of the shade being longitudinally shiftable in saidpocket.

4. A window shade slat of the character dellu

